Recombinant cytokines as an approach to immune reconstitution in aging.
Aging is characterized by a decreased humoral and cell-mediated immunity to a large variety of exogenous antigens and by an increased propensity to autoantibody production, suggesting an age-related disregulation of the immune system. The decline in immune responsiveness to exogenous antigens has been attributed to thymus involution, consisting of a fall in the capacity to induce intrathymic T-cell growth and differentiation, and also to export mature T cells to the periphery. T-cell activation and secretion of soluble factors have been reported to change with aging, but, as with cytokines, the results are conflicting. We investigated the production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma (Th1 type) and IL-4 (Th2 type) cytokines by mitogen-activated spleen cells from young, adult and old mice and their regulation by the addition of a recombinant cytokine (IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-12, IFN-gamma) at varying concentrations. The results indicate that cytokine production can be enhanced only when it is deficient, suggesting the possible use of recombinant cytokines as efficient immunomodulators in age-associated immune disorders.
Frasca
D
D
Laboratory of Immunology, ENEA CR Casaccia, Rome, Italy. frasca@casaccia.enea.it
Doria
G
G
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002452:Cell Count; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins